unknown, 8 strokes, radical 木, rank #30268, Very Hard
杭
háng
Hangzhou
unknown, 8 strokes, radical 木, rank #30268, Very Hard
háng(Hang2) T2
1ford; surname
2Hangzhou
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March 24, 2026
杭háng(Hang2)
The character 杭 (háng) primarily refers to a ford or a shallow place in a river where one can cross. It is also a common Chinese surname, notably associated with the city of Hangzhou, which is famous for its beautiful West Lake. In contexts, it can indicate both geographical and personal names.
Strokes8Radical木Frequency#30268DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Hangzhou, associated with 杭, is known for its historical significance as a cultural center and for its picturesque landscapes, including the iconic West Lake, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'river' (水) with 'a bridge' (桥) over it, representing a ford where you can cross. The '杭' looks like a bridge over a river, and you can remember it by picturing 'Hangzhou' as a place where many bridges meet.
Meanings of 杭
háng(Hang2)
1ford; surname
2Hangzhou
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About 杭
杭Simplified
8Strokes
木Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 杭
Podcast: 杭
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AI Study Notes for 杭
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'river' (水) with 'a bridge' (桥) over it, representing a ford where you can cross. The '杭' looks like a bridge over a river, and you can remember it by picturing 'Hangzhou' as a place where many bridges meet.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 杭 (háng) with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This character is used both formally (as in geographical names) and informally (as a surname). Common collocations include 杭州 (Hangzhou) and 杭氏 (Háng shì, Hang surname).
HSK Study Tips
Since 杭 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, focus on learning it in context, especially when discussing geography or names. Connect it with other place names like 北京 (Beijing) or 上海 (Shanghai) to enhance your geographical vocabulary.
Cultural Note
Hangzhou, associated with 杭, is known for its historical significance as a cultural center and for its picturesque landscapes, including the iconic West Lake, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 杭 with other characters like 行 (xíng), which means 'to walk' or 'to travel.' For example, using 杭行 instead of 行 to refer to traveling is incorrect; it should be 行走 (xíng zǒu) for 'to walk' or 'to travel.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 杭
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Cultural Notes for 杭
🏮Cultural insight
Hangzhou, associated with 杭, is known for its historical significance as a cultural center and for its picturesque landscapes, including the iconic West Lake, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Word Family of 杭
Words Containing This Character13
杭hángHangzhou
杭州Hangzhou subprovincial city and capital of Zhejiang province in southeast China
杭州市Hangzhou subprovincial city and capital of Zhejiang province in southeast China
余杭Yuhang district of Hangzhou city 杭州市[Hángzhōushì], Zhejiang餘杭
杭州湾Hangzhou Bay杭州灣
余杭区Yuhang district of Hangzhou city 杭州市[Hángzhōushì], Zhejiang餘杭區
上杭Shanghang county level city in Longyan 龍岩|龙岩, Fujian
京杭运河the Grand Canal, 1800 km from Beijing to Hangzhou, built starting from 486 BC京杭運河
